ORLANDO, Fla. — Recent court documents reveal that the detainees at the immigration facility in Florida's Everglades, known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' may comprise individuals who haven't been through removal proceedings, contradicting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's prior assertions. These claims emerged in a legal filing from the U.S. Department of Justice, which stated that the detainees exhibit diverse immigration statuses.
'The proposed class encompasses all detainees at Alligator Alcatraz, which houses individuals in varied stages of immigration processing,' the DOJ attorneys clarified. This includes those who have not been processed for removal, contrasting DeSantis's public statements that everyone detained had a final removal order.
As debates continue over the legality and treatment of detainees, civil rights groups filed a lawsuit asserting that detainees were denied adequate access to attorneys in violation of their rights. This lawsuit seeks to enhance protections for detainees to consult privately with their lawyers and communicate confidentially.
Built rapidly this summer, the detention center has faced significant scrutiny on multiple fronts; both environmental and civil rights organizations are involved in separate lawsuits related to its operation. A federal judge had ordered a halt to its operations due to inadequate environmental reviews, although the facility continued functioning after an appellate court intervened.
With previous sentiments from DeSantis that the detainees were all in violation of immigration laws, the recent revelations may compel further examination of the policies in place and the actual conditions within this controversial facility.
